Sometimes a little tweak can transform your average weekend event into a completely unique experience. Like hunting for dinosaur eggs or artful masterpieces instead of Easter eggs, or performing a Shakespearean tale with ballet dancers twirling to Philip Glass. Sure, we love the classic version of these events, but the oddities pique our curiosity like no other.
Big Shanty Festival
More than 250 crafts booths will line Main Street during this Kennesaw festival, now in its thirty-eighth year. The festival, which touts Kennesaw’s role in the Civil War, also includes a reenactors encampment. Saturday and Sunday. kennesaw-ga.gov
Charles McNair
As part of the Cyclorama’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta, the Atlanta author stops by to discuss his Civil War-centric novel Pickett’s Charge, the tale of an elderly Confederate vet who sets off on a journey to kill the last surviving Union soldier. Thursday, 7 p.m. atlantacyclorama.org
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Music, art, food, dogwoods, and—even more exciting—disc dogs! At Piedmont Park. Friday through Sunday. dogwood.org
Dinosaur Egg Hunt
Kids can scavenge for eggs of all kinds during the Easter season, but what tops exploring Fernbank Museum to find something laid by a dino? Saturday, 8:30 a.m. fernbankmuseum.org
Easter Art Hunt
Alternatively, you can forget eggs all together and head off to this Atlanta Fringe Festival event where participants walk away with the pieces of art they find instead of plastic eggshells. (Egg hunt purists, fear not, there’s still one of those for the kiddos.) Saturday, 10 a.m. atlantafringe.org
Hamlet
The indecisive Danish prince gets the dance treatment—with a “pulsating” score by Philip Glass!—in the Atlanta Ballet production at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Friday through Sunday. atlantaballet.com
Sheep to Shawl
The Atlanta History Center puts traditional crafts in warp speed during its annual festival, which includes demonstrations of shearing, spinning, and weaving. Other old-school arts on display: blacksmithing, candle-making, and open-hearth cookery. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. atlantahistorycenter.com
Charlotte’s Web
The Center for Puppetry Arts stages its popular version of the E.B. White classic. Through May 25. puppet.org
9 to 5
Act3 Productions in Sandy Springs stages a musical version of the feisty 1980 comedy—ostensibly about gender equality in the workplace. This makes us wish the flick’s star Jane Fonda still lived in town so she could put in a surprise appearance among the audience. Through May 3. act3productions.org